Why is oil from Russia helping fill tanks in B.C.?

We should be using our own, writes Joseph Maloney.

As August began, three tankers with a combined capacity of almost two million barrels of oil prepared to pass through the Strait of Juan de Fuca to refineries in Washington state. Two of these ships were American, en route from Alaska. The third, the Nordtulip, flying the Portuguese flag, was delivering Russian oil.

Why, you might ask, would Russian oil be feeding Pacific Northwest refineries? Why is Russian oil helping to fuel cars in B. C.?

Alaska’s production is declining. Huge tankers still deliver oil to Washington refineries, but the amount is dwindling. It has to be made up from somewhere because, despite electric vehicles, demand for oil is projected to increase every year until 2040.

If you own a refinery in the Pacific Northwest, Russian oil is a substitute for the shortfall from Alaska. Unfortunately, you can’t say the same for Canadian oil. Although it originates thousands of kilometres closer, pipelines are operating at 100 per cent capacity and shipping by rail from Alberta or North Dakota comes with its own problems.

So why not use Russian oil? We all know Russian oil is extracted according to the strictest environmental standards, workers operate under the best conditions and the Indigenous people are consulted whenever any work would affect their environment. Oh, and let’s not forget about Vladimir Putin, that great defender of democracy and human rights. As my grandson might say, “Not!”

We know we’d much rather buy oil from Canada than Russia. I just don’t believe, given the choice, Canadians would rather get oil from a brutal dictatorship thousands of kilometres away than from a province right next door.

The refineries in Washington state that supply some of B.C.’s gasoline want Canadian oil, too. At Anacortes, where the Nordtulip docked after its voyage from Vladivostok, both refineries get some oil from the Trans Mountain pipeline. The Andeavor refinery has made a “significant” commitment

If you’re concerned about emissions from transportation, a pipeline always beats a tanker.

for more Alberta oil over the next 10 to 15 years. But before they can get it, the Trans Mountain extension must be built.

Canada must be the only country where a vocal minority of citizens protest against using their most valuable natural resource to maintain one of the world’s highest standards of living, best health care, pensions, education and other benefits too numerous to list.

Does Canadian oil contribute to greenhouse gas emissions? Of course, it does.

Should that be a reason for us to leave it to other countries — many of them with totalitarian governments — to supply a demand that’s going to exist whether we help fill it or not?

Canadian oil is getting cleaner: A barrel of oil from the latest oilsands facility compares favourably with the world average. Technological improvements continue to lower the GHG emissions involved in its production.

Transporting Canadian versus Russian oil is a no-brainer. If you’re concerned about emissions from transportation, a pipeline always beats a tanker. Let’s not forget that spills from the current Trans Mountain pipeline over the past few decades probably don’t add up to a year’s worth of accidental discharges from commercial shipping in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Most important, Canada is a democracy. We have a process that, if flawed, gives a voice to communities and First Nations. We have legal protections for workers that benefit hundreds of thousands in the industry and millions in our communities. Russia, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria — three places from which Canadians get oil — don’t bother to consider such niceties.

Why are we supporting corrupt and dictatorial regimes in Saudi Arabia and Russia by buying their oil, rather than supporting our fellow Canadians who share our values and contribute to our prosperity?

Given the challenges we face internationally, it’s time to stand up for our country. We’ll face some tough choices as we do, one of which will be over the Trans Mountain expansion. I know where I stand and where I believe a large majority of my fellow Canadians do, too.